The Magic of Normal
Hope, Love, and Beyond
by Maky Zanganeh
Published by Forbes Books January 2025
2025 Global Book Awards Gold Medalist in Biographies & Memoirs – Women
Thank you, NetGalley and publisher, for sending this book for review consideration.
A Driven Life Told at Arm’s Length: My Take on Dr. Zanganeh’s Memoir
A Story That Begins in Revolution
Dr. Zanganeh describes her book as a chronicle of her private and professional journey, though at times it feels more like a book‑length résumé than a personal memoir. She begins in Iran, which she fled after the Iranian Revolution. (Ironically, while I was reading this, the United States—my own country—was in a military conflict with Iran.)
Her family initially supported the revolution, but the country soon descended into war with Iraq. With the means to do so, her parents sent her and her sisters to France, where they lived with relatives, attended college, and where she eventually trained as a dentist.
From Dentistry to Robotics and Beyond
Then her life pivoted sharply. Instead of practicing dentistry, she entered the business world and rose quickly, becoming a high‑level executive at a budding robotics company. She led the team that created the first long‑distance robotic surgery, and later founded another company that developed a breakthrough cancer drug.
A Personal Life Mostly Offstage
Her personal life stays mostly in the background until, almost abruptly, she mentions becoming pregnant. Because of her demanding career, she sent her son to live with her parents, who raised him while she continued traveling the world for work—a lifestyle that sounded exhausting to me, though she seemed energized by it.
Illness, Resilience, and the Pandemic
Everything shifted when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, a disease she had previously encountered only from the vantage point of a medical business executive. The timing was terrible, arriving just as the COVID‑19 pandemic began. Still, she approached her illness with the same determination that fueled her career, and she survived.
Testimonials, Business Lessons, and a Sudden Genre Shift
Throughout the book, Dr. Zanganeh seems to have a knack for meeting the right people at the right time, many of whom offer glowing testimonials in the final chapter. That chapter also includes a lengthy, detailed guide to starting and running a successful company. It felt like it belonged in a separate book and landed a bit flat after the more personal sections.
Admiration, Achievement, and an Emotional Distance
She speaks with deep affection for her family and credits them with much of her success. She also praises her business partners and colleagues, describing their strengths in detail. As someone who has worked in the medical field, I found her accounts of robotic surgery and cancer‑drug development genuinely interesting.
Still, I finished the book feeling that I didn’t truly know her. She is clearly driven by success, validation, and recognition, without exploring the source of that drive.
Her Most Human Moments
One of the most compelling moments comes when she writes passionately about the assault on women’s rights—especially in Iran—and about the suffering in Gaza following the Hamas attack on Israel. She questions why the world continues to fight wars and what it will take for that cycle to end.
My Thoughts: A Memoir for a Specific Audience
While I found parts of her journey interesting, I wouldn’t call this a universal must‑read. It feels best suited for people who are curious about the corporate world or who want insight into how high‑powered executives build companies and careers. Since it’s a Forbes publication, that audience seems intentional. Readers looking for a more intimate memoir will come away wanting more. You may find such insights in the articles on her website.
A Deeper Look
Dr. Zanganeh addressed several personal, health, and professional issues in her book. Based on this review, what else do you want to know about her and her work?
She experienced
- political unrest and war
- separation from family
- personal illness from COVID-19 and breast cancer
- Her father’s terminal illness and death
- high-pressure professional life
Which of these resonates with you? If you read her book, which might be of most help to you?
From the halls of MD Anderson Cancer Center as a patient & care giver to her father battling cancer,
From Dr. Zanganeh’s website
to groundbreaking work in medical research,
she illustrates how science, innovation, and community can illuminate the path to recovery.
Photos of Dr. Maky Zanganeh
The cover image of this post was created by JetPackAI available with WordPress.
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